Interests:winding down and cruising to avoid my grown up kids who have diy jobs for me

Posted 21 March 2014 - 06:18 PM

I can vividly recall the very first time I used a motorway, it was the M1 and had not been opened long, I pulled in at the start of the slip road and as recommended at the time, reduced all my tyre pressures by a couple of PSI's to prevent tyres exploding, got back into the driving seat and put on the little used seat belt, feeling like I was in the Steve McQueen movie 'Bullitt', then accelerating down the sliproad onto the M1, slowly nursing the old Anglia up to 70, it felt like flying. Not long after the big end went, maybe that's why I remember

Being from the 'Islands' originally, the 1st time was on a motorway was when I was about 19, driving from Slightly North of John O Groats to Bedford. Think the motorway started around Edinburgh in 1984 (M90 ?) . Had to change the brake pads on my Maxi before driving home again. Bit of a culture shock !

1959 went up the M1, not long after it was opened, on my motorbike. No crash barriers (or crash helmet), only the odd car about, no speed limit, got my bike up to just under the magic 'ton'. Never realised it would use more fuel and had to use reserve on the way home at a steady 50 mph until I found a garage. Only had half a crown (12.5p) so could only top up with half a gallon. Made it home though. I wish I could remember how long it took.

My first mway drive was in 1971 in my Austin A40 Cambridge YKX971 (no - not the little Farina model : ))...1200 cc of pulsating power and with a column change mechanism so worn I had to scrape the wheel to get 1st and 2nd : ) !

But the thing I remember most was not actually the driving experience but more the 'Van' I saw in the mirror ,I was thrashing along at 60mph and then the 'Van' just pissed past me like I was standing still...first time I ever saw a Range Rover LOL